Tag Archive | Ellora’s Cave

Christine will be awarding one $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly selected winner during the tour. Click here for the Rafflecopter. Click the banner above to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

Interview With Geek Girl, Morgan Reid

by Christine Rains

Christine Rains: Thanks for coming over today, Morgan. I made TARDIS cookies, and there are beverages in the fridge. Help yourself.

Morgan Reid: Mmm, TARDIS cookies. I wonder if there are more chocolate chips on the inside than what I see. And thank you for having me. Oh, is that the newest D&D Monster Manual?

CR: Sure is! You should see the illustrations. Wow. Uh, anyway, we should get down to business. Interview time.

MR: Not some lame what is my favorite food and what animal would I be kind of interview, right?

CR: No, no. Don’t worry. I want to talk about how you met Dean Bradley.

MR: Oh. * blushes *

CR: So how did you meet?

MR: Well, we’d been playing the same online role-playing game for two years. Steampunk Quest. Awesome game. Anyway, Emily — she’s my best friend and roomie — and I arranged for our group of players to meet at a gaming convention. We all thought it would be fun to dress up as our characters from the game too. I’m Geneve Gyrfalcon, the leader of the rebel faction.

CR: A key player in the game. So what did you wear?

MR: I let Emily have complete control over our costumes. She’s really into cosplay. She made our outfits. I had black riding pants that flared out, a leather corset with boots that matched, and long gloves that went up high on my arms. The corset was a little tight.

CR: A little?

MR: Okay. It was really tight. I could hardly breathe! I don’t know if Emily thought I was smaller in the chest than her, and she’s just a board with a few bumps on it. So after we met with the group and went to the pub—

CR: Wait. Before you go any further, what was your first impression of Dean?

MR: Gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous, really. Tall with lean muscles. He’s a fencer, you know. Thick black hair that I just wanted to run my fingers through and dreamy bedroom eyes. And his long fingers… Oh those fingers. The cherry on the cake was that he wore a long trench coat. How can anyone resist such a man? I hadn’t been so intensely attracted to a guy since, well, I hadn’t ever wanted a guy that much.

CR: Dean sounds yummy. So what happened after you went to the pub?

MR: I had trouble breathing. Damn corset. I excused myself, went to the restroom, and loosened the laces. The problem was that I couldn’t do them back up again after I had my breathing break.

CR: You couldn’t just text Emily to come and help you?

MR: No. I left my cell in my hotel room. I tried to get her attention from the back hallway of the pub, but she was too busy flirting. That’s when Dean… well, oh god….

CR: Came to your rescue, right?

MR: Let’s just say the laces of the corset did not get done back up. In fact, the corset slipped down. Right there in the dark rear hall.

CR: Hehehe! I won’t ask you the juicy details. I’ll let readers find out for themselves when they read the book.

MR: Thank you for that. I think.

CR: All right. I’m done with the grilling. Want to break out the dice and play a bit?

MR: Of course! Oh, these cookies are really good, by the way. Like David Tennant good.

CR: Now that’s a compliment! Thanks for the interview and for being a proud fellow geek girl. Let’s roll!

About Dice and Debauchery, Book 1

A weekend away at a convention is exactly what overworked student Morgan needs. Dressed as her character from her favorite online game, Morgan is braced—seriously, could her corset be tighter?—to meet the other players. As Lady Gyrfalcon, she’s ready for everything—except her intense attraction to Dean. A clandestine meeting in the hallway of the hotel and Morgan’s corset is looser but now she can’t breathe for entirely different reasons.

Utterly charmed, Morgan decides to roll the dice and indulge in a fantasy-worthy weekend of sexy roleplaying, scorching sex and life-altering orgasms. Still, through it all Morgan is too smart to believe the chemistry constantly stripping her of costumes and control can last more than the length of the convention. But if she wants to keep a relationship so intense she thought it only existed in fiction, she’s going to have to let go of her cool-headed logic and allow herself to fall far and fast for the perfect guy.

Excerpt

Geek girl problem #31: Your flat-chested best friend is a cosplayer who tries to fit you into her costumes when you’re built like Rose Tyler from Doctor Who.

After blotting my chest with a cool paper towel, I realized I couldn’t do the corset back up myself. And I’d left my cell back in the room.

Think clearly. Be rational. What would the Doctor do?

He wouldn’t be wearing this ridiculous contraption to begin with.

The hallway where the bathrooms were was pretty dark. Maybe I could wave Emily over. If Emily could turn her attention away from the guys.

Taking one more deep breath, I stepped into the hall and peered over at their table. I bit at my lower lip. Emily’s back was to me, but Sydney might be able to see me. I waved, holding onto the corset with one hand. When no one noticed, I wondered if I should shout.

Wait. There was an empty chair. His chair.

“Did you need a hand?” Dean’s breath was warm against my bare shoulder.

I turned slowly. My arm brushed him as he stood so close. With my heart pounding, I couldn’t find my voice. God, he was glorious. And when he smiled, an impish glint shone in those sexy hazel eyes.

Two cold showers tonight. No, three.

Wetting my lips, I forced myself to say something, anything that would be less embarrassing than just standing there drooling. “Come to kill me in a dark alley, Sir Thorton? Catch me unaware and undo the resistance in one silent motion?”

Dean’s grin widened. “Who said my plan was ever to kill you? You always assume, but you know so little of my desires.”

About the Author

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. As an avid gamer, she’s either going on adventures with her son or rolling dice with friends. Christine is a proud member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. She has several short stories and novellas published. “Loose Corset” is the first book of her geeky and hilarious Dice & Debauchery series.

Nancy will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Click here for the Rafflecopter. Click the banner above to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

Interview With Nancy Corrigan

Susana: Every writer dreams of getting “the call.” What were you doing when yours came? Who got to hear the

Nancy: Good news first? My debut book was Unexpected Find from the Royal Pride series. “The Call” was an email I didn’t see until sometime in the middle of the night. I was working nightshift and squealed when I saw it, but couldn’t tell anyone. Waiting until my husband woke that morning to tell him about it was incredibly hard.

Susana: Who gave you the writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

Nancy: The best writing advice I ever got was to keep writing. Sounds simple but for a writer, rejection is as profound as praise and both can be an inspiration. Actually, some of the worst comments I ever got as an aspiring writer are the ones that pushed me to reach the next level in my journey. I’d entered several contests before I got “the call” and one judge nearly crushed me by telling me my writing was pathetic and I should reevaluate my goals because I wasn’t cut out to be a writer. I cried then did exactly that. I reevaluated, learned from my mistakes and kept writing. It paid off J

Susana: Describe the “perfect hero.” What about the “perfect hero” for you?

Nancy: To me the perfect hero is kind, devoted and passionate. I’m a romantic at heart and love the knight-in-shining armor type of hero. That doesn’t mean his heroine needs to be a damsel in distress. I prefer both to be able to stand on their own but when they come together, it’s an explosion of love and passion. The perfect hero for me is my husband. He loves me despite my faults and compliments both sides of me—good and bad. And really, I can’t ask for more.

Susana: What are favorite pastimes?

Nancy: Spending time with my family. They’re my support base and the first ones I share my joy and hardship with. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Susana: What has been your biggest adventure to date?

Nancy: I’d have to say becoming a mother has been the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. From diapers to teenage drama, I’ve run the gamut. By the time my third child came, I’d been convinced that I knew everything. LOL-not even close. Their personalities are so different and each needs different things to thrive. But their smiles and love buoy me up and make it worth it.

Susana: What is the one modern convenience you can’t do without?

Nancy: My laptop. With my busy schedule, I need to be able to write anywhere. My laptop makes it possible to attend hours long wrestling competitions and still make progress on my WIPs.

Susana: Describe the ideal romantic evening.

Nancy: The ideal romantic evening is a night with only my hubby, no kids or responsibilities. It doesn’t matter what we do—a movie, dinner or even just relaxing around the house. It’s those quiet times that remind me of why I married him.

About Wild Hunt, Book 1

Tainted from birth, Harley lives a life cloaked in darkness and temptation. She resists the lure of her evil legacy by holding the memory of her ghostly savior close. Every night without him is agony. She fantasizes about him and yearns for his body, but he’s not the protector or lover she’s envisioned. He’s a Hunter bred to eliminate her kind. He’s also her only hope of salvation.

Calan, the leader of the Wild Hunt, was created to protect mankind from the Unseelie Court. For a millennium, he’s sacrificed to ensure the horrid creatures remain in the Underworld, but his strength wanes. He must rely on his enemy’s daughter to save him, but he doesn’t expect the intensity of their lust or love. Her touch calms his wild nature and ignites his carnal desires. He’ll risk all to save her, but doing so forces him to make the ultimate sacrifice, one that’ll damn him to suffer forever in his own living hell.

A Romantica® Paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt

Calan heard the torch’s crackle minutes before the sinful fragrance of oranges and spice reached him.

He closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Several hours had passed since he’d spoken to her. He’d almost given up hope that she would come to him.

The click of her boots resounded in the hallway. He focused on the stairs leading into his cell. Anticipation held him taut. Nine years he’d waited for her. In that time, he’d experienced a range of emotions from disappointment to hatred, but he’d never let go of the longing. He’d left a piece of himself with her. He wanted it back. Whether he kept the woman he’d given it to remained undecided.

Dirty white shoes appeared on the first step. Shapely legs covered in a clingy black material showed next. Another step revealed flaring hips that gave way to a small waist he could probably span with one hand. The longing he’d always carried for her turned into lust, a burning desire he couldn’t deny.

His pent-up breath escaped in a shudder. A tremor shook the dainty hand curled at her hip. The response, along with the heavy evidence of her arousal in the air added to the sexual tension tightening his limbs.

Full breasts that strained the confines of her shirt rose and fell with her rapid breaths. He should coax her the remaining distance but couldn’t form words. The sight of her pebbled nipples pushing against her thin top shut his mind down. Getting her naked and filling her became his only thought.

She reached out, braced a hand against the wall and took the last step.

Her gaze latched onto his.

His heart stopped.

Dear gods, the fuzzy image he’d held of her didn’t do her justice. She was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen.

About the Author

Nancy Corrigan believes in unending love and epic tales with a paranormal flare. She enjoys transcending the boundaries of reality to take her readers on an erotic, emotional and romantic journey.

She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. When she’s not weaving sizzling fantasies, she works as a chemist in a pharmaceutical lab.

Scarlett will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and an eCopy of one of Scarlett’s back list (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn host. Click here for the Rafflecopter. Click the banner above to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

About Loved Up (Book One in the Coastal Heat series)

When she accidentally runs into the back of a gorgeous stranger’s truck at a stoplight, the last thing on Kassie’s mind is indulging in her deepest, hottest fantasies with him. Until he shows up on her doorstep as the contractor she’d hoped to hire to remodel her home and things get interesting…fast.

With a sexy drawl, skilled hands and a body that makes her panties all but melt, Jax is exactly the kind of man she shouldn’t get involved with after breaking off her engagement and starting over in another state. But she’s helpless to resist the powerful desire he makes her feel, and before long she’s letting him have his wicked way with her all over town.

Jax knows falling for a woman like Kassie’s a bad idea. He’s experienced enough heartbreak to see the signs. He can tell she’s ready to run, but when she’s in his arms, he’ll do everything he can to make her stay.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt

Kassie pulled open the door and did a double take.

Jax.

There he stood, grinning at her with his dimples on full display. In his tight jeans, dove-gray shirt and cowboy boots, he looked like something straight out of her fantasies. That super sexy tattoo of his curled over his forearm, and she followed its path of dark curves all the way up to his strong biceps. Yum. His blue eyes crinkled at the corners, shining with a blatant sexual warmth that threatened to melt her panties.

“It’s me,” he drawled.

She tried to stanch the instant stab of lust the mere sound of his voice sent slamming into her. Her eyes greedily took him in, noticing that his stubble was back, this time more pronounced than before. Good God, he was sex in a gorgeous, man-shaped package. And she was staring at him.

“Hi, Jax,” she forced herself to say.

“Hi, Kassie.” He stepped closer, invading her personal space in the most delicious way. “Are you going to let me in, or are we going to give your new neighbors a show?”

She stepped back instinctively, even though she knew she shouldn’t. The expression on his face had gone from charming to predatory in under thirty seconds. “What brings you here?” she asked tentatively, even though she was reasonably sure she could tell by the bulge in his jeans.

About the Author

Award-winning author Scarlett Scott writes contemporary and historical romance with heat, heart and happily ever afters. After growing up on romance novels, she now crafts love stories of her own with a good dose of sizzle and an equal amount of humor. She lives in the Pennsylvania countryside with her Canadian husband and is a proud mom to their adorable but occasionally evil dog with a penchant for eating everything he shouldn’t.

Good morning, Susana!

Thanks so much for having me around for a lovely chat about Regency life – the glitter and the grit. Like the Victorian era, The Regency offers so many writerly opportunities to showcase the underbelly beneath the veneer of respectability. While on the surface there appeared there appeared a greater degree of freedom than during Victorian times, a ruined reputation was nevertheless not something that could be patched up. This kind of pressure really ups the stakes when it comes to protecting – to the death, sometimes – one’s most valuable commodity.

As you know, I write under two names, and in the past couple of weeks I’ve had a release under each of them – an erotic Regency published by Ellora’s Cave called Dangerous Gentlemen about a viscount’s daughter who poses as a prostitute to save her life; and a Regency Intrigue published by Choc Lit called The Maid of Milan about a newly married heroine with a ‘past’ that must be kept secret at all costs. (It’s also been described as a Regency-era ‘Dynasty’ with its drug addiction, love triangle and lies.)

Today I was delighted to receive my first review for Dangerous Gentlemen from The Jeep Diva, who says this:

‘A fun and fast paced story, full of secrets, conflict and agenda mark the first book that I have read by Beverley Oakley… Secrets and slanderous intentions run rife through this story; set in the mid 1800’s when concerns for the traitorous behaviors of the Spencean followers was at a high point as concern for the realm, monarchy and status quo for the gentry was in danger, and assassination plots were feared around every corner.

‘…Mixing historic events, sights and balls, with detail and description that help build the tension in the story… Emotionally honest, especially in the interactions between the sisters… A fun read for historic romance fans who are not averse to a more modern take on the sexual content, while not frequent, the sexual moments are steamy, detailed and well described.’

While Dangerous Gentlemen is a racy, steamy ride through history, The Maid of Milan is more a subtle portrayal of hot-house repression set in exactly the same year, again with an underpinning of the politics of the time – and so much to lose for my heroine in the event of discovery.

Thanks so much for hosting me, Susana. I’d love to offer a giveaway of my award-winning racy Regency Romp, Rake’s Honour, to a commenter who tells me what item of historical clothing they would not have liked to have worn.

Excerpt

Here’s a short excerpt from Dangerous Gentlemen. It takes place when my heroine, shy, well-intentioned Hetty, starts searching for proof that the apparently dangerous Sir Aubrey is not a traitor. At a ball, she accidentally stumbles into his room after discovering he’s a house-guest.

“Hello?” she asked in a low voice. She took another step into the room. “Is anyone in here?”

Silence greeted her. A low fire burned in the grate before which was a table, against which were propped several items, including a familiar silver-topped cane. Her breath caught in her throat. The last time she’d seen that cane was when Sir Aubrey had exchanged several words with Araminta in the street as Hetty had been bringing up the rear with Mrs. Monks. Of course Sir Aubrey had not looked twice at her, excusing himself before having to be introduced to the younger sister and the chaperone who’d nearly closed the gap.

Heart hammering, Hetty closed the door behind her and went to pick up the cane.

How fortunate to have stumbled into Sir Aubrey’s room, she thought when she observed the fine coat lying upon the bed, apparently discarded in favor of what he was wearing tonight.

He really was a nonpareil, wearing his clothes as if they were an extension of his athletic physique.

Yet he was dangerous, she had to remind herself. Meaning she should not be here, which of course she shouldn’t, regardless of whether he was dangerous or not.

But how such a scion of good breeding and genteel society could be guilty of such a heinous crime as treason, Hetty could not imagine. And surely the story of the runaway wife was a gilded one. It was all the stuff of make-believe and Cousin Stephen was only telling Hetty he was dangerous to curb her schoolroom daydreams.

Turning, she saw half protruding from beneath the suit of clothes what appeared to be the edge of a silver, filigreed box. It was partly obscured by the overhang of the counterpane, as if it hadn’t properly been returned to its hiding place.

A moment’s indecision made her pause but soon Hetty was crouching on the floor, closing clammy fingers around the box. Might it contain secrets? Ones that would reveal, conclusively, what Cousin Stephen claimed was true?

Alternatively, proof that would exonerate Sir Aubrey?

Hetty fumbled for the catch. Dear Lord, this was too exciting for words. Perhaps Sir Aubrey was a secret agent working for the English, and Stephen had no idea.

Perhaps he was—

Protesting door hinges made her squeal as the door was flung wide. Hetty let the lid of the box fall and retreated into the shadows as Sir Aubrey strode into the room.

He was breathing heavily as he shrugged off his jacket with a curse, raindrops spattering into the hissing fire as he raked his fingers through his hair. A curious stillness overtook him and he froze, obviously sensing all was not as he left it.

He sniffed the air. “Orange flower water,” he muttered, stepping closer to the fire, fumbling for the tinderbox on the mantelpiece to light a candle.

Immediately he was thrown into sharp relief and as he stared at Hetty, it was not his look of shock and suspicion that made her scream—but the copious amounts of blood that stained his shirtsleeves and once snowy linen cravat.

“God Almighty, who are you?” he demanded as his gaze raked her finery. “You’re no parlor maid, that’s for certain.”

“Sir Aubrey, is it? So you know who I am but you still haven’t told me who you are?” He grunted as he looked down at his arm, the bloodied linen shredded over the long graze. “It’s not as bad as it looks and I assure you, I gave a good account of myself.” His laugh was more a sneer. “Indeed, my assailant lies dead in the gutter.”

Hetty gasped. “Dueling?” Myriad questions crowded her mind. Could this be to do with Araminta? Had Sir Aubrey left Araminta in the middle of the ball to fight some other contender for her affections?

“Dueling?” he repeated. He shook his head and Hetty drew back at the coldness in his eyes. “There was nothing noble about my activities this evening. I was set upon in a dark alley. A short scuffle ensued, I drew my knife, then…” With his hand, he made a gesture like the slitting of his throat, adding, “I am slightly wounded but as I said, my attacker does not live to repeat the insult.”

Her horror clearly amused him, for his eyes narrowed while his generous mouth quirked. He looked like an incarnation of the most handsome demon she’d ever seen depicted in the fairy stories she loved to read.

“We all have enemies, madam. Enemies who must be eliminated if we are to breathe freely.

Aubrey was enjoying the girl’s wide-eyed terror. No doubt she imagined he’d sliced the throat of a footpad, not the snarling, mangy cur who had leapt upon him as he’d been returning from his brief assignation to settle a gaming debt incurred by his favorite reprobate nephew.

Taking pity on her, he said reassuringly, “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.’ Her wide-eyed look as he removed first his jacket, then the bloodied shirt he tossed upon the bed before he rose to his full height, bare chested, afforded him the most amusement he’d had in a long time. “So, you’re the girl Madame Chambon sent?”

She simply stared at him and he nodded appraisingly as he sat on the bed and pulled off his boots. “You had me fooled for a moment. I thought you really were some innocent who’d lost her way in these catacombs.” Had he not been so jaded he might have been ashamed at the assessment in his tone when he added, “My faithful procuress threatened to one day surprise me—and that I’d not be able to tell the difference.” He chuckled and put out his hand. “Well, come into the light so I can see you better. After the god-awful night I’ve had, you might be just what I need. The retiring sort—for I’m sick to death of women who like to play games.”

Like that Miss Araminta Partington, he thought. Now didn’t she like to play games, with her speaking looks and half-whispered promises? Which wasn’t to say he hadn’t enjoyed his brief assignation with her in an antechamber behind the supper room. He’d been on his way out to settle his nephew’s wager when Miss Partington had waylaid him before proving extremely amenable to a kiss and a fondle. But of course that was as far as it could go and the throbbing of his engorged cock after that little encounter had been one good reason to slip unnoticed out of Lady Knox’s townhouse.

Unsatisfied desire had made him restless in every sense, and while he’d imagined a feisty coupling with whichever ladybird sent to him, this young lady’s contrived innocence was having a curious effect upon him. It would seem Madame Chambon had read him correctly, for even he hadn’t realized how tired he was of worldly sophistication.

“Yes, here.” He patted his knees. “No need to carry the pretense to quite such extremes. That’s right. I want you to sit on my lap so I can…observe you better.”

“Sit on your lap?” she squeaked as he tugged at her hand and her rounded bottom landed on his thighs.

He ran his hands over her contours appreciatively. She was rather a nice little thing with a familiarity that tugged at his memory. Plump and almost pretty. Not quite, but with that slightly gawkish look about her that indicated she was in transition to womanhood and might go either way—turn into a swan. Or not.

He rather fancied she had the makings of a beauty, though that didn’t concern him now since he had her only for one night. Madame Chambon would have sent her on approval. She seemed vaguely familiar. It was quite possible he’d seen the chit at the brothel and unconsciously dismissed her on account of the very reasons Madame Chambon had sent her—for her innocence and youth.

He ran his fingers through her fine light-brown curls and contoured her neck appreciatively, amused that she tensed as if this had never happened to her before. Well, if he liked her, he’d see her as often as he wished over the following month. By the time the abbess presented him with one of her exorbitant accounts, he’d know whether the girl gave value enough to continue the arrangement.

If she pleased him as much as his former mistress Jezebel had, Aubrey would indeed be seeing more of her. The next hour or so would tell.

“Oh sir!” she cried, jumping up as his hand came into contact with her breast. “What are you doing?”

He grinned as he tugged her back down and resettled her across his knees. “Madame Chambon has trained you well. Now I suppose you’ll tell me you’re a virgin.”

She nodded vigorously. “I am, sir. Indeed I am and—”

His scowl made her stiffen with apparent terror. Oh, she was good.

“Really?” He reached for the cutlass that had fallen from his belt and now lay at his feet. Idly he stroked the blade, stained with the dead dog’s blood, while he contemplated her. She was indulging in the charade perhaps a little too enthusiastically but then, as he narrowed his gaze and saw how frightened she really seemed, it occurred to him that every whore had to be broken in sometime and perhaps Madame Chambon had decided to play a little trick on him.

She’d told him he needed softening. That the effects of the opprobrium directed at him since poor Margaret’s death had stripped him of his humanity. Perhaps tonight was the time to cultivate his more tender side.

“A virgin?” Before, he’d spoken with blatant skepticism. Now he would allow that she could be telling the truth.

She nodded, her eyes riveted on the blade he was now using to clean his fingernails.

“So this will be your first time with a man?”

She drew in a trembling breath and repeated stupidly, “First time with a man?”

He tried not to sound irritated. There was only so much of the play-acting he could take. “Madame Chambon obviously selected you on account of your innocence. She knows my proclivities and that experience is my preference but I can be gentle. I won’t hurt you.” He grinned as he was struck by the responsibility of breaking in a virgin. One who would always remember her first time with him, no matter how many paying customers she serviced in her working life.

He licked his lips as he watched understanding dawn, adding as he traced the edge of her décolletage with his right forefinger, “In fact, I promise that you’ll quite enjoy the experience. God knows, you’re going to endure enough during your career, so you might as well start off on a good note. Now, shall we begin?

About the Author

Beverley Eikli is the author of eight historical romances.

She has worked as a journalist, magazine editor, a safari lodge manager in the Okavango, and an airborne geophysical survey operator on contracts around the world

Beverley wrote her first romance at seventeen, but drowning her heroine on the last page was symptomatic of the problems she grappled with during her 23-year journey towards publication. She did however stumble upon lasting romance, herself, when the handsome Norwegian bush pilot she met around a camp fire in Botswana whisked her off into a world of adventure, encompassing 12 countries in twenty years. A romantic adventure that’s lasted to the present day.

Recently Beverley received her third nomination from Australian Romance Readersfor Favourite Historical Romance with her suspenseful Napoleonic espionage Romance The Reluctant Bride.

She now teaches in the Department of Professional Writing & Editing at Victoria University, Melbourne.

The author will be awarding a Grand Prize of a handmade bookmark, signed cover flat, pens, flash drive, keylight key chain, a Loving Dangerously t-shirt, a signed copy of Fondled and Gobbled and a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US ONLY). Plus, a runner’s up prize of a $20 Amazon GC will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click here for the Rafflecoper. Click on the banner to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

Author Interview

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

I would tell young writers not to ever give up on their dreams. Find a good critique partner and learn to take advice from others. I would also suggest to find writer friends, writing can be very solitary and friends help with the questions that can’t be answered by anyone else.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Oh yes! I find I usually suffer from writers block when I’m trying to force my characters to do something that they don’t want to do. It can last for a day to months, depending on how stubborn I’m being. What works for me is to skip the piece that I’m trying to write and work around it. Then, later on the missing link to the piece I’m trying to write will reveal itself, sometimes in the oddest of places.

What comes first: the plot or the characters?

I think they both came at the same time. When I have an idea for a new story I see the plot and the character. But I don’t think it would be wrong to have said either one. A writer could think of a plot and then the characters that would fit the situation or the writer could have a specific character that they wanted to write about and then think of a plot that would fit the character. When I got the idea for the first book in this series I had the idea of a hostile alien invasion and the idea of how a strong willed woman, Eva, would react to it.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m mostly a pantser, but I have some plotter in me. If I have a choice I like being pantser, there’s something magical about finding out what’s happening in the story as I go along. I find out all kinds of interesting things about my character and the story line.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

There’s nothing mentioned about Jess and JB’s relationship in the blurb. We know from Dangerously Yours that Jess and JB are friends, but in Dangerously Yours we delve deeper into that friendship. In Dangerously Hers we also see how Eva’s life has changed and we see how she has grown in the last few years. This book is about friendship, starting over and finding love. You don’t have to be a sci-fi fan to understand that concept. It’s the makings of a really good love story.

Are you working on something at present that you would like to tell us about?

I have two more books on the way for the Loving Dangerously series: Dangerously His and Dangerously Forever. I have more stories in my head for that series so hopefully the books won’t stop there. I’m also working on a superhuman book that will be included in a multi-author series. I have played with two other books that I would like to finish in 2014. I’m hoping 2014 will be the year of a new series as well as the growth of Loving Dangerously.

What is your work schedule like when writing?

It’s pretty hectic. I work a full-time day job and then come home to write. I can write for hours, sometimes into the wee hours of the night, only to get up and start the process all over again. I like to think that I’m productive when I write, sitting down and finishing chapters after chapters, but many times I don’t. I’m easily distracted by the wonders of television and the perils of Facebook.

About Dangerously Hers

Loving Dangerously, Book Three. Jess hates aliens. After the invasion that destroyed Earth, the extraterrestrial bastards sold her to a brothel as a sex slave. She may have escaped but the old memories and fears still linger in the dark corners of her mind. Supposedly Sonis is just the place for her—somewhere safe, where she can heal and start fresh. She’s almost hopeful…until she meets Rasha, her new boss.

Rasha, Captain of the Sonis Royal Guard, is a warrior through and through. He’s huge, sinfully sexy and could have any woman on Sonis—but the woman he wants is Jess. He’s very much an alien and Jess knows she should hate him or at least be wary, but whenever he’s around, she loses control. She tells herself it’s only sex—amazing, mind-blowing sex like nothing else she’s ever experienced—but there’s something about Rasha that shakes her soul. The feel of his skin against hers, the look in his eyes as he touches her—they make her want to believe it’s possible to find love and begin again.

Rasha raised it out of her grasp. “You should never try to take a warrior’s weapon.”

She pulled her hand back in record speed. “I wasn’t trying to take it. I wanted to feel it.”

He lowered his weapon in front of her.

She flicked her hand out nonchalantly. “Never mind. You’re acting like it’s been kissed by Jesus or something.”

“Who?”

“Forget about it. It’s precious, I get it.”

“There’s no reason to get upset. If you no longer want to touch this weapon, I have another…weapon…you can touch.”

She shifted on her feet, feeling the bumbling idiot trying to rise to the surface. “No, thank you.” Yes, please.

He ran his hands down his muscular thighs. “Another time then?”

Jess had the fleeting thought of him running his hands on her. Oh jeez, how good would those hands feel on me.

“Hmm?”

“I shall leave you alone. I’m sure you have plenty of work to do.”

“Alone? again?” As she spoke, she immediately wanted to take the words back.

He cocked his head. “I could stay if you wish. Eva said you would need ‘space’ in the beginning.”

She snorted. The sound wasn’t pretty at all. She might as well have oinked like a pig while she was at it. “I don’t wish you to stay.”

“Really? Are you sure? We could do something about that.”

Was his voice always this deep?

She picked at her hair nervously. “About what?”

He inhaled sharply. “I can smell you.” Then he let his gaze drop to crotch.

About the Author

A. M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.

New Zealand is a small country down at the bottom of the world. It’s the place I call home, and the place I keep returning to, even though I suffer from itchy feet syndrome. In the past when I’ve met people while traveling, most were very vague about New Zealand and didn’t know much about my country of birth. A few people knew about rugby and the All Blacks and in India people were knowledgeable about our cricket team.

With the release of the Lord of the Rings trilogy our profile soared and movie goers raved about the beautiful scenery. If you live in the US or Europe, it’s a long flight to New Zealand. Maybe you don’t have the time or need to save money before you visit for real. But don’t despair—you can still make an armchair stop and discover some of New Zealand’s gorgeous scenery.

The characters of Never Send a Dog To Do a Woman’s Job make several stops as Lily, the heroine takes Alexandre on a fact-gathering trip through Rotorua, Taupo, Martinborough, Wellington and Nelson in the South Island. Killer, the talking dog isn’t very impressed with Rotorua. She thinks it stinks, and she’d be right. The scent of sulfur permeates the entire city, and you have to be careful about where you dig holes because mud holes and geysers can spout from anywhere!

In Playing to Win my main characters spend a long weekend at Lake Taupo. This is right in the middle of the North Island, and the place where I spent many school holidays with my family. It was fun revisiting in Playing to Win.

My most recent release, One Night of Misbehavior is set in Auckland. The biggest city in New Zealand, Auckland has a beautiful harbor and many offshore islands. The landscape is studded with extinct volcanoes and standing on the summits provides wonderful 360 degree views of the city.

Make That Man Mine, a paranormal story is set mostly on the island of Waiheke. Waiheke is a forty minute ferry ride from Downtown Auckland and many people commute for work and school. It’s a fun place to go wine tasting and to try local produce and boutique-type pickles, preserves etc, and the beaches are lovely.

This is just a taste of what you might see if you visit the North Island of New Zealand. We’ll have to visit the South Island another time. It’s very different from the North and just as beautiful.

Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.

Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her very own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres for publishers Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at these links.

My first introduction to Laurann Dohner came from a list of recommended books from a friend of mine, Selene Grace Silver. I’ve always been a fierce devotee of historical romances, although I’ve read my share of the other sub-genres as well. But I’m grateful that Selene introduced me to Laurann Dohner, Kresley Cole, Jaid Black, Laurel K. Hamilton, and others I hadn’t discovered yet.

Laurann specializes in erotic romances involving hunky alpha males who tend to like rough sex, although they do have a tender, more gentle side. The best thing about these hunky males—besides their muscular physiques—is that once they recognize their perfect mate, they won’t rest until they’ve won her…and once they’ve done that, they’re committed for life. They’re also very protective, and sometimes that causes problems because 21st century women tend to be independent and self-sufficient and don’t care to have their actions monitored or curtailed. On the other hand, sometimes it comes in handy to have protection. And what woman doesn’t yearn to have a man so fiercely devoted to her?

Incidentally, Lauren is a frequent poster on Facebook, and here are some things I’ve learned about her:

She is addicted to iced coffee

She has a good-looking husband who cooks and cleans and takes care of the children and keeps her stocked up with iced coffee and whatever she needs. (Not bad, huh?)

She just bought an “office house”. I’m drooling now!

She helped her mother buy a house nearby.

She has a magnetic wall in all of her offices. (I want one too!)

She writes a prodigious amount of words per day. (I don’t think I could equal her even if I had a house-husband.)

She wrote dozens of books and snippets of books before she finally got published, and she’s still using parts of them in her new releases. (Note: don’t throw anything away!)

The New Species Series

An American pharmaceutical company has been discovered to be conducting illegal experiments mixing human and animal DNA to try to create exotic new species. The results of these experiments, mixtures of human with primate, feline, or canine DNA, have been kept in cages and tortured and treated like animals all their lives. The problem the feds have when they crack down on the company and liberate the victims is…what should be done with them?

There are many who hate and fear the New Species and want them destroyed. They are relentless in their determination to rid the earth of the “abomination” of nature. The government, fearing that it will be held liable for not being on top of things with this company in the first place, and also for any harm that comes to the New Species, donates a large tract of land and resources so that they can live in comfort and peace. Although the new “homeland” is well guarded, the hate groups do not cease in their efforts to destroy the New Species and anyone else who gets in their way.

Fury is the first book of the New Species series. The heroine, Ellie, was an employee of the Mercile, the company who conducted the illegal experiments. She accidentally found out what the company was doing and was determined to stop it. She finds herself drawn to one of the creatures she rescues, who ends up calling himself “Fury” because of his uncontrollable anger toward the captors who tortured him. Once betrayed by a woman, he wants to kill Ellie, but when he finally gets the chance, he discovers he can’t resist her. Ellie wants him too, body and soul. But with all the abuse he has suffered, is he capable of returning her love?

Note: Many of Dohner’s books carry a reader advisory, and Fury is no exception. This story contains the heartrending aftermath of a rape scene involving a captive male. Another scene involves capture and forced touching by a hurt, vengeful Fury. I personally did not find this offensive, but I must say that the sex scenes in the Zorn Warriors series seem far too close to rape for my taste.

UPDATE: Dohner’s latest New Species release, Moon, has taken the best seller lists by storm! Not only that, it has been getting stellar reviews. Here’s what Susana has to say about it:

Susana Says: Good Read, 4 out of 5 Stars

Susana Reviews Moon

Moon’s story begins two years ago, as the situation with the New Species victims and the U.S. Government was still evolving. Dr. Joyce Yards is a psychologist assigned to counsel the traumatized victims, and 466 is an unwilling patient who sees all humans as the enemy after being tortured by them all his life.

In spite of his belligerence, Joy finds herself inexplicably drawn to 466. There’s definitely a strong sexual chemistry between them—466 wants her so badly he promises to cooperate with the therapy sessions if she will share sex with him. It’s not that simple for Joy, who is well aware that she could lose her job and her license for such unethical contact. And then there’s the fact that 466 hasn’t had sex for a very long time and doesn’t have any other prospects. Is it really Joy he wants, or any female who can assuage his raging libido? Eventually, Joy comes to the conclusion that it would be best for 466’s adjustment if she were no longer in the picture. So she leaves her job and moves away.

Fast forward two years:

After a successful adjustment, 466 (now called Moon) has been attacked by some sort of chemical that has left him a raging manic with no memory of the past two years. Justice and the NSO conclude that it’s a new chemical devised by Mercile fugitives to attack the New Species. Unable to combat its effects, they finally call in Joy, knowing that she was important to Moon at one time and that perhaps she could get through to him when no one else could.

Joy doesn’t hesitate. She loved him years ago and still does, and she wants more than anything to bring him back before the powers-that-be decide he’s a hopeless case and must be put-down. Better yet, now she’s not his therapist. Will having sex with him be the spark that is necessary to snap his mind back? If he does regain his memory, will he remember how angry he was when she left him? Is it just sex with him, or does he have feelings for her as well?

The book is skillfully written and kept me turning the pages (or pushing the forward button on the Kindle). The sex scenes are explicit and immensely satisfying, and the characters appealing and fully-faceted. It’s always nice to visit the protagonists of past books in the series, but the book stands well on its own.

The only issue I have with Moon and many of the others in the series is that it follows too closely to the standard framework: attraction/separation/reunion/resentment/emotional turmoil/attacks by hate groups/trust/resolution. Is it possible for Dohner to move beyond that with the confines of the world she has created? I’m not sure, but it would be fun to see her try!

I had a rather short area here telling a little about myself but then I had more than a few people ask me to expand it so… here goes. LOL. I’m a full time home ‘supervisor’ which is a nice word for saying I’m a housewife. I’m happily married, I met my dream guy 23 years ago, and we have 4 children. I live in Nevada and I can’t function without iced coffee. I believe in romance, I’ve always been a daydreamer, and I’m a HUGE fan of books – always have been.

No, I didn’t know that I always wanted to write. I inhaled books as a child. I read entire series (Pippi Longstocking, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, Trixie Beldon, The Borrowers, etc) in a matter of days. By the time I turned nine years old I had an adult library card where I visited often. I moved on to John Saul, Stephen King, Richard Laymon, Agatha Christie, and then found romance. I got hooked. I wrote poetry in my teens and then moved on to short stories. I started to write my first book after I read a real bomb of one that ticked me off with really horrible characters and a plot that was shabby at best. I thought…I could do better!

I wrote my first book which will probably never see the light of day in the early 90’s. I wrote a series of books from it. I’m a series fan! I kept writing for fun, wrote MANY books and then in 2009 I decided to attempt to get published. I wrote my first Sci Fi romance and Ral’s Woman came to be. I submitted it and with a little tweaking, Ellora’s Cave sent me an acceptance letter. It was kind of a ‘Cinderella’ experience for me. It’s been a terrific ride so far and I’m really happy. It’s a dream come true.